What is a Gicleè, aka Digital Reproduction?

Every one has heard me talking about Gicleè digital reproduction and my incorporating it into my business model. The question that is most frequently asked of me is: What is A Gicleè?

Blanket of Tulips by Kathryn Delany - available as a Giclee reproduction

Gicleè : the name comes from a French printmaker's term for "fine spray", and was adapted to distinguish the technique from ordinary offset printing. In this printing method, the media (ink) is carried by a spinning roller while infinitely small pixels of rich, vibrant water-based, archival inks are sprayed on it at a very high speed, onto fine archival art paper or canvas (or linen), known as the ‘substrate’. This renders an amazingly smooth and consistent image true to the original painting, a superb quality fine art reproduction. The combination of specific inks and substrate are carefully selected to assure maximum print longevity. Thanks to Frame Haven Gallery Art Dictionary website for the above definition. http://www.framehaven.net/dictionary.php

This Gicleé (g-clay) fine art print, is a state-of-the-art reproduction and refers to a machine-made reproduction using the latest and most sophisticated ink-jet technology. A Gicleè is produced by taking high quality digital images in the form of scans of the original art work. The digital image is adjusted to the closest possible color match to the original. If you have a printer who knows what they are doing you should not be able to distinguish the difference between the original and the reproduction.

This color matched image is then printed on to the surface of your choice: artist canvas, archival watercolor paper, self stick fabric, brushed cotton. Depending on where you have the print created, you can event print onto acrylic panels, silk, wallpaper and other thicker surfaces.

How durable is a Gicleé Print?

The latest inks offer up to 70 years light-fastness and UV-resistance under museum archival conditions. For even better permanence, make sure your canvas Gicleè prints are coated with a layer of anti-fading UV protective clear satin glaze or topcoat.Definition provided by http://www.colours-art-publishers.com/gicleé .html
Gicleé is quickly becoming the new standard in the art industry, and is widely embraced for its astonishing quality by major museums, galleries, publishers and artists. The ability to ‘print-on-demand’ is the driving force behind the ‘digital reproduction’ movement.

A Gicleé print is quite simply the closest replication of an original artwork that is currently possible. For the artist, and the client this means more fine art at obtainable price points. I work with a local company (Oregon Photo ) and work closely with them on all color proofing. In my opinion their Technician, Kirk, is one of the finest in town. All of my reproductions are signed, hand embellished and numbered where applicable.